Editorial Review
BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT HANDING YOUR TEENS THE CAR KEYS, DO EVERYONE A BIG FAVOR: CRASHPROOF THEM!Every year, six million sons and daughters will become first-time drivers. Fifty-eight percent of them will be involved in a car accident within a year of getting their license, and a significant portion of these crashes will be fatal. But here's the good news: research has shown that car crashes can be reduced by up to 30 percent when you, the parent, are actively involved in your teen's instruction and set certain limits.
In Crashproof Your Kids, certified driving instructor and dad Timothy Smith has combined the collective wisdom of numerous experts to develop the Crashproof Plan: a series of behind-the-wheel exercises designed to improve your teen's driving awareness, behavior, and skill in a way that fits your schedule. Written in a highly accessible, informal, and often humorous style, this comprehensive plan begins where drivers' education programs end, and includes:
• A step-by-step plan to develop your teen's braking, car control, and defensive driving skills• How to handle road emergencies and basic car maintenance
• Tips on helping your teen deal with dangerous distractions, including peer pressure and the use of alcohol and drugs
• The Crashproof Contract, which outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and rules of the road for both the teen and the parent
You'll get plenty of help on how to communicate vital driving concepts to your teen, and you'll laugh, learn, and sympathize with stories from parents who have already been there. Crashproof Your Kids is an essential resource for any parents wanting to help their teenagers successfully navigate the single most dangerous activity they'll ever undertake.
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Customer Reviews
Safer Teen lives Long 
2007-01-03
This book gives good detail and suggestions on ways to keep your young drivers safe. This is similar to the way I was taught to drive, and will be my guide for my children. It even helped improve my driving as a model for the young driver. Some of the sayings the author states are now spoken by my youngest as fact. The lessons are grouped into areas that seem to take best advantage of a young driver's intrest and need to know more.
A Driving Instructor coach! 2006-11-10
Divided into four "gears" and 32 chapters, this book is a must have for serious instructors and should be required reading for ALL parents!
Easy reading with many tips - "females have a statistically greater crash involvement at intersections, so pay particular attention to this area with girls turning left across traffic." Charts, including braking distance and new auto purchase recommendations also included. I keep this paperback in my door pocket and refer to it often as a professional driving instructor.
Outstanding, A Must-Have for Any New Driver 
2006-09-10
Driving physics and psychology are a passion of mine because many motorists out there simply don't know what they are doing. Finally, someone has both the writing ability AND the driving skill to tell new drivers so much of what I wish I could. My problem is that, as a driver of 28+ years, I don't like speed limits. Mr. Smith has given me, a veteran driver and one who thought he knew everything about driving, dozens of reasons outlined in 'Crashproof Your Kids' to slow down more often. I am even working on a driving book of my own. Tim's expertise is clearly evident in the almost 300 pages of this excellent non-fiction work--way better than the mushy and drippy psycho-babble road rage books of the late 1990's. Tim, I want to party with you, brother. You really know your stuff.
Who would ever think to make sure they don't mess with their cellphone while refueling or indulge in some other activity that builds up static electricity that could cause a fire? Tim did, and he wrote about it. Lots of pearls of driving wisdom that are more than homespun advice.
Of particular interest to the new driver is Section Four (aptly named 'Fourth Gear', where each section is a 'Gear'), 'Reducing Risky Behavior' where the author gets into very detailed, useful tips about losses of control, spins, slides and plows (the front end doesn't respond). It would be difficult to finish this book in under a week because it is so well written (much better written than the dozens of books I've researched). Even though the author and I share the same passion about teaching kids how to drive, I admire Mr. Smith's ability to explain his instructions clearly, without bias and with authority (he has three kids himself). We're not about making money. We're about making sure that the new driver does not turn into the guy I used to be out there--the one running the red lights, whipping past you at 80 while you wondered what my problem was. I'm all about confession of personal mistakes and avoiding hypocrisy. Tim Smith, your author, is all about making sure you never GET to the point of having to confess of a mistake--and, as it turns out, to not be the hypocrite who points a finger at every other driver and says 'he has no right to be behind the wheel!'
It is clear, then, that the author that is not pressured by corporate demands, who has the time to write about his subject and fine tune it with such passion makes a much more believable, compelling work. About the only thing that could be done to 'Crashproof...' to improve its overall impact is a set of diagrams or perhaps a few pictures that illustrate the author's points. I'm working on that myself, and I know it's a tedious, painstaking chore. But that gets back to my point about how well Mr. Smith writes. Every sentence informs, every chapter educates. No way your kid should be without this book before he or she ever turns the key.
From the Chief Highliner. Well done, Tim!
Look Out! He just got his liscence! 2006-06-06
Teaching one's teenager to drive is one of the most unnerving experiences a parent will go through. Fraught with conflict, fear and tension, it's no wonder so many of us pass-on this task to others. But one of these days you are going to have to get in the car with your teenager at the wheel. To prepare yourself for this frightening fact-of-life read Tim Smiths' thoughtful and informative "Crash-Proof Your Kids".His approach is organized, practical, concise and often humorous. Even your teenager won't mind reviewing this book. And believe me, when it comes to giving instruction on parallel parking or highway merging or parking lot safety it's reassuring to be able to refer to what the expert says on the subject. This kind of information allows the frazzled parent to impart useful tips before they're needed, and often without shouting! The information in this book was very helpful to me and my son as he approached his driver liscencing exam. I wish I had it 5 years ago when my daughter had me clinging to the dashboard and whispering profanity.
It will make the difference! 2006-04-20
Tim's book is an excellent book written with the express view of keeping your child alive for longer. Remember, driving is the most common reason for under 25 year old deaths.
I strongly recommend that you and your young adult read this book. It is one of the best I have read on the subject. Reading it will make the difference!
Advice well timed 2008-07-16
Crashproof Your Kids was an excellent reference source for my safe driving CD Mind the Road: Waking Hypnosis for a Conscious Commute. The advice and recommendations from this book were a great inspiration for the suggestions my audio CD gives to drivers as they start their drive to have a safe and focused drive. I would highly recommend this book with my audio CD to help drivers be prepared for what potentials the road may present to them.
A great gift. 
2008-05-31
Gave this as a gift to my daughter who has a sixteen year old son. I didn't read all of it but it seemed like the right thing for the moment.
Peace of Mind 2008-05-30
Somewhat wordy and lengthy, but has interesting stories...I especially enjoyed the story of how the author was thrown in jail on a warrant for not paying a minimal fine on time.
Read this if you have teenagers 2007-05-22
High school Drivers' Education courses are woefully inadequate to the serious task of training young, easily distractable people what to do in actual real-life road conditions. More teens are killed in car accidents due to simple driver error than due to drugs and alcohol combined. It's time for parents to step in and supplement their kids' education with much-needed skills. "Crash-proof your teens" will help you do that. Presented in a simple step-by-step method, this book will lead you through the difficult maze of helping your kids to be safe and fearless drivers. You may also come out of it a safer driver yourself.
(My 17-year-old daughter was killed in a car crash caused by simple driver error. The driver was also killed, as well as another teen in their car and a 9-year-old in the car they crashed into. I wish that this book would have been part of that young driver's training. Maybe all four girls would still be alive.)
good solid advice 2007-02-06
my daughter and i are still going thru this book, but so far, this book seems to give very good solid advice. a lot of common sense, but i think that's something all drivers need a bit more of these days. i would definately recommend this book to not only new drivers, but to anyone that would like to brush up on skills.
